Summer Skin Care – Simple Home Remedies

Warm breezes, flip flops, long days, and fun in the sun. Summertime is already here! Are you ready for it? Guess what? You may be more ready than you know. Don’t rush out to the stores and pick up the pricey bottle of after sun lotion just yet.. Check out this list of simple home remedies containing items that you may already have in your home. Let nature help keep you feeling bright and shiny this year.

The Problem: Flip Flop Foot.

The Solution: Buttermilk foot soak.

Honestly, I hardly even own any shoes other than flip-flops. I love them.. But, constantly wearing flip flops and running 3 times a week does not equal a pretty foot. Here’s a quick and easy at home foot soak that I love courtesy of Yahoo Voices

1 C. Buttermilk (slightly warmed)

½ C. Sugar

6-7 C. Hot water

A few drops essential oil of your choosing (optional)

Milk can be substituted in this homemade spa foot soak, but buttermilk is better because of the higher concentration of lactic acid which works to soften feet and remove dead skin. The glycolic acid in the sugar also helps exfoliate your feet. Essential oils are optional, but here are some suggestions: Peppermint oil for invigorating feet, Lavender for soothing your senses, or Tea Tree oil if you have any problems with foot fungus. You can also put marbles on the bottom of your foot bath and rub your feet along them for massaging action during your foot soak. Soak your feet for 20 minutes or so and then pat dry.

The Problem: I want a non-toxic sunscreen.

The Solution: DIY Sunscreen

Yes! You can make your own sunscreen quite easily. Best tip that I have learned over the years is that the oils that you already have in your kitchen have natural SPF properties. Coconut, jojoba, sesame and sunflower oils to name a few. Here’s the catch.. You must buy non-nano zinc oxide for the recipe. This means that the zinc-oxide powder is not broken down to a size that is absorbable by the skin..therefore keeping it non-toxic. Have a look at this recipe courtesy of DIY Natural

Directions:

Add coconut oil, shea butter, and jojoba/sesame/sunflower oil to a makeshift double boiler. (To make your own double boiler, place a Pyrex measuring cup containing ingredients inside a small pot filled with a few inches of water). Heat gently until shea butter is just melted. Remove from double boiler and allow to cool a little. Put on a mask that covers your nose and mouth (to avoid breathing in the fine particles of zinc oxide powder), and measure out your zinc oxide. Add zinc oxide, Vitamin E oil, and optional essential oils to the other ingredients. Stir well to combine. Store in a dark jar in the refrigerator.

The Problem: I missed a spot when applying my sunscreen. Sunburn!

The Solution: Make some at home “after sun lotion”

Sunlight is crucial to our natural vitamin D production. Obviously that rule should be used in moderation. Its likely that any piece of unprotected skin that is basking in the sun for more than 20 minutes will end up very uncomfortable. Especially if you are still sporting your pale wintertime complexion – if this happens, whip these ingredients together and slather your way to some relief. Recipe courtesy of Braintree.

4 tsp of Aloe Vera

4 tsp of Olive Oil

1 tsp Coconut Oil

2 tsp Shea Butter

5 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil

Empty pot or bottle for storage.

This homemade lotion is filled with skin healing ingredients. Shea butter, olive oil and coconut oil are of course excellent natural moisturisers. Aloe Vera is the most common natural remedy for sunburnt skin, well-known for its healing and soothing properties and useful for helping to reduce the sting in the burn. Lavender essential oil is great for healing, cooling and soothing irritated skin… as well as smelling pretty too!

Simply measure out all of your ingredients and mix together into a thick creamy paste. Pour into an recycled jar or pot.

Cassiopia

** Married mommy of two beautiful girls , residing in San Diego. Practice manager/Veterinary nurse working in the field for 11 years.

2 Responses

These are great! I am trying that foot soak for sure. I live in flip flops in the summer and my feet get pretty rough. I think I even have some buttermilk in the refrigerator. Do you know if there is a natural way to get a really high SPF in a sunscreen? I have Lupus and if I don’t use a high sunscreen, I break out in horrible rashes.

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